Serena Williams spent about an hour on a practice court in the late afternoon on Monday in preparation for her first-round match of the United States Open. She pounded groundstrokes and serves, smashed some overheads, punched home a few volleys and even chased a handful of drop shots.
It was the hardest she worked all day. Two hours later, Williams was on and off the court in barely 30 minutes. Her first-round opponent, Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia, retired in the second set with an injury after Williams had won the first eight games of the match.